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From Jude Chinedu, Enugu
The International Conference Centre in Enugu was brimming with energy on Sunday, August 31, 2025. From the entrance hall to the wide auditorium, the atmosphere felt less like a routine political meeting and more like a festival of conviction.
Party leaders in smart attire clustered in animated discussions, while youth leaders, women groups, professionals and community heads found their seats with a shared sense of purpose.
The theme was clear: to review Governor Peter Ndubuisi Mbah’s performance in office and decide the political future of Enugu East Senatorial Zone. By the end of the meeting, the verdict was emphatic. The zone would not just support Mbah; it would adopt him as its sole candidate for the 2027 governorship election.
In their communiqué, pointedly titled “One good term deserves another”, the leaders cut across party lines to declare that Governor Mbah had not only kept his campaign promises but had surpassed expectations.
They recalled his ambitious vision to grow Enugu’s economy from $4.4bn to $30bn, achieve zero per cent poverty, and make the state the nation’s investment and tourism hub. Two years and three months on, they argued, evidence of progress was visible everywhere: improved security, smart schools rising across wards, modern hospitals, revived industries, and massive road works that have begun to change the face of the state.
“We have prayed for a day like this since the end of Dr Michael Okpara’s era. Today, we can state unequivocally that God has answered our prayers in the person of Dr Peter Ndubuisi Mbah. Ndi Enugu now hold their heads high and proudly identify as Ndi Enugu anywhere,” the communiqué read.
If the communiqué was the formal verdict, the emotional charge came from the speeches. And none struck a deeper chord than Chijioke Edeoga’s. Once a bitter rival to Mbah in the 2023 elections, the former Labour Party governorship candidate now stood on the podium as a convert.
Edeoga leaned on scripture to explain his turnabout: “We know the story in the Bible about Saul and Paul. Saul was using all his might to fight the disciples of Jesus Christ. On his way to Damascus, he met with the Holy Spirit and his eyes opened. He converted and became the most impactful follower of Jesus Christ.
“So I, as Chijioke Edeoga, am that Saul in the Bible. I am promising that I will be that Paul in the Bible. I will devote everything within me to ensure he returns for the second tenure. I am moving a motion that the leadership of Enugu East Senatorial Zone have decided that Peter Mbah will be our sole candidate for 2027.”
The endorsement quickly moved beyond party boundaries. In an unexpected moment, Dr Ben Nwoye, former APC chairman in the state, rose to second the motion.
“I am, on behalf of the leaders of APC, begging Peter Mbah to come over to APC,” he declared to gasps and laughter. “Don’t mind what anybody is saying. Peter Mbah is welcome to APC. I hereby second the motion that Peter Mbah should be adopted as the sole governorship candidate of Enugu East Senatorial Zone.”
His statement underscored the depth of Mbah’s cross-party appeal, transforming the gathering from a PDP-dominated hall into a broader consensus of the political class.
For Nnamdi Nwafor, PDP Zonal Chairman of Enugu East, the meeting was an opportunity to anchor the zone’s political direction.
“Our main purpose of coming here is to thank God for our son, Peter Mbah. In these two years, you have all seen how Enugu is. We are saying today that we will stand with him wherever he is. Our logo going forward is ‘In Peter Mbah we stand’. We are supporting him because he is doing well.”
Deputy State PDP Chairman, Steve Oruruo, took a broader historical view. He argued that leadership from Enugu East has always been transformative.
“It is salient to know that in the history of Enugu State, any time someone from this senatorial zone comes to power, there is always a sharp contrast with others. It happened when Chimaroke was in power.
“The same is being repeated under Peter Mbah, who came at a time when there was trust deficit between the leaders and the led. We are going to give vociferous support to a man who knows what he is doing. The people of Enugu State have resolved to follow him.”
From the State Assembly, Majority Leader Johnson Ani assured Mbah of legislative support.
“Governor Peter Mbah is a game changer. Other people in the state are saying it and we can see it. We, all in the House of Assembly, are behind the governor and we will support him come 2027.”
On his part, Sydney Edeh, Chairman of Nkanu East LGA and head of ALGON, said the six council chairmen of Enugu East had made their stand clear: “We receive our allocation 100 per cent. No one touches our money. We have agreed that it is our duty to ensure that come 2027, Peter Ndubuisi Mbah will be re-elected.
“If you look at what he has done already, you can imagine what he will do after two tenures. As ALGON Chairman, I tell you that whatever it will take to get Peter Mbah re-elected in 2027, we will do it.”
Professor Agu Gab Agu, a respected lawyer and academic, asked the people to imagine the future.
“You can see what two years is like. Let me allow you to imagine what eight years will be like. What we are saying is that we will follow Mbah wherever he is going. We are confident that he will not mislead us.”
Former Deputy Governor Sunday Onyebuchi struck a cultural note, quoting an Igbo adage: “Mbah’s actions and achievements have said it all. A good market sells itself.
“Mbah is a good son in whom we are well pleased. Are we supporting him only because he is our son? No. If we had a bad son, we would not support him. Mbah is a good son and we are proud of him. He is a perfect example of the saying that Nkanu nwere mmadu.”
From the floor, former lawmaker Cornelius Nnaji reminded the gathering that every governor before Mbah had faced opposition but still completed two terms.
“There was opposition during Chimaroke, but he still completed his second tenure. There was opposition under Sullivan, but he still completed his second tenure. The same happened under Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi. Why should Governor Mbah’s tenure be different?”
House of Representatives member Nnoli Nnaji went further, casting Mbah’s mandate in divine terms:
“You know that Peter Mbah is chosen by God and fashioned for the good of Enugu people. It is for us to ensure that Peter Mbah is returned in 2027. Anyone who decides to contest against him may well be planning to disgrace himself.”
The communiqué concluded by urging other senatorial zones, Enugu North and Enugu West, to honour the zoning arrangement that has defined the state’s politics since 2007.
Just as Enugu East deferred during the tenures of Sullivan Chime and Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, they argued, so too should the other zones support Mbah for his second term.
It is now certain that in 2027, Enugu East will stand by Peter Ndubuisi Mbah. And in their words, one good term deserves another.
